Georgian Peacekeepers returned to Homeland from ISAF

Last contingent of Batumi Separate Light Infantry Battalion returned to homeland from Afghanistan. Defense Minister of Georgia Irakli Alasania, Chief of General Staff of GAF, Major-General Vakhtang Kapanadze and U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland met 80 military of Batumi Separate Light Infantry Battalion at Alekseevka Military Airport. They congratulated Georgian peacekeepers on peaceful homecoming and thanked them to fulfill NATO-led ISAF mission successfully.

“The last contingent of our brave soldiers of Batumi Separate Light Infantry Battalion returned to Georgia. I would like to express my gratitude to them for a great service and successful fulfilling of the ISAF mission. I am sure the time our military will spend with their families is the best way for relaxation after such important mission. I also would like to thank their families who brought up these brave soldiers to our country. Our contribution in ISAF mission once more confirms that Georgia is a reliable partner for NATO member countries” – stated Defense Minister Irakli Alanine.

Batumi Separate Light Infantry Battalion of GAF performed the mission shoulder to shoulder with the US Marines in Helmand Province. Its main task there was to neutralize insurgent forces in the operational zone of the province, to support local government and development of Afghan National Security Forces, to control security areas and to cooperate with U.S. Marine Forces.

Batumi Separate Light Infantry Battalion was sent to Afghanistan to carry out ISAF mission by rotation last September. The battalion completely deployed the operation area in October.